Improvement in bottle and jug locks



.T. w. ROBARDS. BOTTLE AND JUG-LOCYK. No. 173.061. 1 r named Feb .1,1876.

II My HIHIIIIIIJEEI WITNESSES IJV'V'EJV'TOR view ofmy invention closed.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. ROBARDS, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVE MENT IN BOTTLE AND JUG LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [73,061, dated February1, 1876 application filed July 26, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPHW. ROBARDS, of Richmond, in the countyofHenrico and in the State of Virginia, have invented 'certain new anduseful Improvements in Bottle and Jug Locks; and do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of referencemarked thereon making a partof this specification. I

The nature of my invention consists inthe construction and arrangementof a cap and 7 look for'bottles, ugs, demijohns, &c., as will behereinafter more fully set forth;

In the annexed drawing, Figure l is a side Fig. 2 is an enlargedperspective view of the same open. Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed views ofparts thereof.

A represents a conical or other suitably shaped cap to fit over the corkand upper part of. the neck of a bottle, jug, demijohn, or other vesselthat has a shoulder, a, formed around its neck near the end.

' The lower end of the cap forms a rim, made'in three sections, onesection, B being fast to the cap while the other two sections, B B arehinged to. the ends of the section B and close around the neck of thebottle. These sections are, at their lower ends, provided withinwardly-projecting flanges b, to fit under the shoulder a of the neck.

In the top part of the cap A is attached a spring, d, having a circularplate, 0, attached to its lower end. When the capis put on, the plate 0is on top of the cork, and the spring 01 more or less compressed, so.that when the rim is closed the flanges b will be drawn up against theshoulder a on the neck of the bottle or demijohn.

It is intended to manufacture my invention of various sizes to suitdiflerent-sized vessels, and if there is no variation in the necks ofeach size vessel, the sections of the rim will be simply provided withthe stationary flange b, asdescribed; but in casethere should be anyvariation, each section is provided with an additional flange, b, on topof the stationary-flange, and such additional flange is pressed inwardby means of a spring, d, suitably connected to the rim, so that underall circumstances a flange will be forced inward under the shoulder a onthe neck of the vessel.

The outer end of one of the sections B is provided with a stationarydouble hook or catch, 0, and the corresponding end of the other sectionB is provided with two spring-jaws, f f, to closeon the two sides ofsaid catch, and thus lock the sections together, thereby securing thecap on the vessel.

It is opened by means of a key, D, constructed in such a manner as toforce the jaws fapart, so that the sections B may be separated.

On the outside of that section towhich the jaws f are attached is a.slide, it, connected with two'arms, '5 i, on the inside of saidsection, which arms embrace the jaws, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. v

When the slide his moved toward'the keyhole, the jaws become locked, sothat they cannot be opened even when the key is inserted and turned; butwhen the slide is moved outward the arms 1 are so far drawn back fromthe jaws that by the use of the key, the jaws may be separated and thesectional rim opened.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by' Letters Patent, is-

1. The cap A, provided with a sectional flanged rim, having twosections, B B, hinged to the ends of the third stationary section B,and, when closed, locked by a suitable looking mechanism, substantiallyas and for the purposes herein set forth. 7,

2. The plate 0 and spring d, in combination with the cap A and sectionalflanged'rim' B B for the purposes herein set forth.

3.'The auxiliary flanges b, with springs d, attached to the sectionalrim B B for the purposes herein set forth.

y 4. The combination, with the sectional rim of the cap A, of the doublecatch 6 andspringjaws f f, for the purposes herein set forth.

5. The slide it and arms 41 i, in combination with the jaws f f,sectional rim B B and cap A, substantially as and for the purposesherein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this24th day of June,'1875.

JOSEPH w. RoBAnDs.

Witnesses P. A. TATUM, E. A. BAKER.

